Vacuum cleaner



May 6; 1941- l ic. L. BRowN, .JR 2,240,543

VACUUM CLEANER y Filed Dec. 21, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1v fw f k INVENnLJR. BY M O my,

wm@ n@ i Mays, 1941.

c. L. BROWN, JR 2,240,543

VACUUM CLEANER- Filed Dec. v2l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

/rkrATTO openings.

lthe unit into the hose.

Patented May 6, 1941 2,240,543 VACUUM CLEANER Charles L. Brown, Jr., Stamford, Conn., assigner to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1937, Serial No. 181,018

8 Claims.

Myinvention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuum cleaners of the type havinga unit supported on the iloor and connected to a cleaning tool by a ilexible hose or conduit.

In vacuum cleaners of this type an opening is provided at the suction end of the unit in which the hose may be connected for normal use as a suction cleaner. Exhaust openings are provided at the other end-of the unit with means for directing the air upwardly as it leaves the openings so it will not disturb any dust or dirt on the iloor or surface on which the unit is supported. At times the unit .is used as a blower by connecting the hose in one of the exhaust Heretofore a sliding louver has been provided in' one of the exhaust openings normal- 1y serving to direct the air leaving the opening upwardly but movable to permit the insertion of the hose. Also the sliding louver has been arranged to close the other exhaust openings upon the insertion of the hose to directl the air from The advantage of pro` viding exhaust openings in addition to the one that maybe used for connecting the hose for blower action lies in the fact that the larger the area of the exhaust openings the lower the back pressure will be when the unit is used as a suction cleaner.

In accordance with my invention, an improved louver assembly is provided for the exhaust end of a. vacuum cleaner unit with fixed vanes and a sliding louver of simplified construction.

What I consider to be novel in my invention may be better understood by reference to the following, specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in,which Fig. 1 is a side view partially in section of a vacuum cleaner unit embodying my improved louver assembly;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the unit vshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the louver assembly taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view partly in section taken on lines 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 3 except that the hose is shown connected in one of the exhaust openings;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken along the lines I6 of Fig. 5.

. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, numeral I0 designates generally a vacuum cleaner having a casing II of substantially cylindrical cross section which is mounted on sleighs I2. of casing II is closed by a removable cover I3 with a suction aperture I4 in which a flexible hose I5 may be connected. At the other end of hose I5 a cleaning tool I6 is connected by means of a substantially rigid hollow tube I-1.

A dust separating member I8 is secured in casing II by means of a iianged ring I9 which is clamped between the casing II and the cover I3. The dust separating member I8 is in the form of a bag made of a ne texture cloth or other material which will permit the passage of air therethrough but will separate out any dust particles entering with the air. Whenl it is desired to clean the dust separating member I8 of the dust collected in it, the cover I3 is removed and the dust separating member taken out of the casing II and emptied. A motor-fan unit. n-

cluding an electric motor 2|] and a multi-stage centrifugal fan 2I is mounted in the casing II.

In normal operation ,air enters the cleaning tool I6, passes throughthe hose I5, through the aperture I4, and into the casing II. During the passage ofthe air through the dust separating member I8 any entrained dirt or dust is separated therefrom. The air then continues through the fan 2I and motor 20 andout through the exv haust openings provided in a louver assembly 22. Louver assembly 22 is removably secured by two knurled headed screws 23 in a rear end housing 24 carried by casing II. Two exhaust openings 25 vare located in the top of the louver assembly 22 and are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the vertical center line. A circular exhaust opening 26 is located in louver assembly 22 below the two exhaust openings 25. In circular exhaust opening 2,6 a sliding louver 21 is mounted with inclined vanes 28. Sliding louver 21 is normally held flush with the surface of louver assembly 22 in engagement with an inturned flange 29 of a stop ring 30 located in exhaust opening 26 by means of a substantially conical spiral spring 3I. In this position the inclined vanes 28 direct the air passing through exhaust opening 2B upwardly away from the surface on which the vacuum cleaner unit III is supported so the air will not disturb any dust located on this surface. The exhaust openings 25 are provided with inclinedvanes 32 for the same purpose as vanes 28.

The two exhaust openings 25 and the exhaust opening 26 together provide a relatively vlarge when the cleaner unit III ls used as a suction One end 1 which the air may be exhausted y cleaner. In this way the back pressure at the exhaust end of the cleaner unit is kept low. When it is desired to use the cleaner unit I as a blower the hose l is connected to the exhaust end of the cleaner unit. The hose I5 is inserted in the circular exhaust opening 26 moving the ysliding louver 21 to the left as shown in Fig. 5

' of the air through the exhaust openings 25. This tendency is overcome by utilizing the sliding louver 21 to close the exhaust openings 25 upon the insertion of the hose I5. A louver housing 34 witha port 35 is secured -to the louver asl sembly by means of screws 36. Port 35 is provided with a curved lip 31. Two ilat plates 38 and an arched plate or partition 39 divide housing 34 into-two chambers. Top chamber 40 communicates with the two exhaust openings 25 and bottom chamber 4I communicates with the exhaust opening 26. Port 35 communicates direct- 1y with the bottom chamber 4I and through a passage 42 with the top chamber 40.

Sliding louver 21 has two out-turned ears 43 which ride on tracks formed by two Z-shaped guides 44 secured to plate 38. The small end of spring 3| which moves sliding louver 21 to the right and opposes movement to the left, as

shown, is seated in a central seat 45 provided in a cross bar 46 extending across port 35. When the sliding louver 21 is moved to the left by in-- sertion oi hose I5 in opening 26 a skirt 41 carried by sliding louver 21 closes the passage 42 to the top chamber 4U. With the sliding louver 21 in the position indicated in Fig, 5, the skirt 41 extends from fthe lip 31' of port 35 to the par' tition 39. To insure an air-tight seal when pas-` sage 42 is closed a compressible ring gasket 48 of soft rubber or other iiexible material is located around the lip 31 oi' port 35. In this manner the passage 42 communicating with top chamber 49 and exhaust openings 25 is closed when hose I5 is secured in opening 26 thereby directing the air into the hose I5 and closing openings 25.

The partition 39 in addition -to its function as a separating wall between chambers 40 and 4I serves as a guide for the sliding louver 21. The skirt 31 engages the partition 39 throughout its movement and so it ca nnot be accidentally inclined in its movement which might cause It to bind or stick. In normal operation the hose I5 is connected inthe aperture I4 of the front end cover I3. Dirt-laden air is picked up by the cleaning tool I6 and passes into the cleaning unit lIII through hose I5. 'I'he dirt entrained in the air is Separated therefrom in the passage of the air through the dust separating member I8. The air then passes through the multi-stage centrifugal fan 2| and from the fan through or around the motor 20. The air then enters the louver .assembly 22 through the port35. A portion of the air passes directly out through the exhaust opening 26. The sliding louver 21A is held hush with the surface of louver assembly 22 by means of spiral spring 3I. 'I'he vanes 23 carried by the sliding louver 22 direct the air passing out through exhaust opening 26 in an up. ward direction. Anothe.` par-:ion of the air en- A.

tering port 35 passes upwardly through the passage 42 into .the chamber 40. The i-.lr entering chamber 40 passes out through the exhaust openings 25 and is directed upwardly by the vanes 32.

When it is desired to utilize the blower action of the vacuum cleaner unit I0, the hose is disconnected from the aperture I4 and connected in the exhaust opening 26, The latches 33 secured to the end of hose I5 engage the inturned flange 29 provided on stop ring 30. When the hose I5 is inserted in the opening 26, sliding louver 21 is moved to the left. as shown in Fig. 5, against the bias of spring 3l, When the hose I5 has been secured in the l louver 21 is in the position indicated in Fig. 5 with its skirt 41 closing the passage 42 between the lip 31 of port 35 and the partition 39. Air entering the aperture I4 of Ithe front end cover I3 passesV through .theV casing II and enters 4the port 35. The air entering port 35 passes out .through the hose I5. For disconnecting the hose I5 from the exhaust opening 26 ngers 49 are provided for releasing latches 33. When the -hose I5 is removed from .the exhaust opening 26, sliding louver 21 is returned to its position iiush with the outer surface of louver assembly 22 by means louver assembly, a plate of spring 3|. The cleaner unit I0 is then in condition for use as a suction cleaner upon connection of the hose I5 in the aperture I4.

-By the arrangement of the louver housing 34 divided into -two` chambers by the plalte 38 and partition 39 and the utilization of the skirt 41 of sliding louver 21 to close the passage 42 to the top chamber 40 upon the insertion of hose vI5 in the opening 26 a simple and eiicient construction is provided to maintain a low back pressure for normal use of the cleaner unit as a suction cleaner and to direct the air into the hose for the use of the blower action of the cleanerunit. Among the other features of this construction of importance are the tracks formed by the guides 44 and plates 33 together with the partition 39 which carry and guide the sliding louver 21 upon its movement from one position to another.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing. means for producing a ilowof air through said' casing. a louver assembly secured to said casing having plurality of exhaust openings, a housing located in said casing secured to said louver assembly and having a port, two fiat plates and an arcuate partition secured to said housing forming within said housing a first chamber communicating with one of said exhaust openings and said port and a second chamber communicating with the other of said exhaust openings and through a passage with said port, a sliding louver mounted in said one of `said exhaust openings; a spring biasing said sliding louver to a position ilush with the surface of said louver assembly, means upon insertion of a hose in sai one ofr said exhaust openings displacing sai sliding louver against the bias of said spring, and a skirt carried by said sliding louver closing the passage from said port to said second chamber upon the insertion of said hose in said one of said exhaust openings.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, producing a flow of air through said'casing, a louver assembly secured to said casing having an exhaust opening, a housing within said casing enclosing said exhaust opening secured to said secured to said housing.

a casing. means for opening 26, sliding producing a port, tracks secured a guide connected to said plate -forming a track, and a sliding louver having an ear riding on said track.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, means f or ow of air through said casing, a louver assemblysecured to said casing having an exhaust opening, a housing within said casing enclosing said exhaust opening secured to said louver assembly and having a port, a partition dividing said housing into two chambers, guides carried by said partition, and a sliding louver mounted in said exhaust opening having ears engaging said guides.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, means for producing a iiow of air through said casing, a louver assembly secured to said casing having a plurality of exhaust openings, a housing within said casing secured to said louver assembly enclosing said exhaust openings and having a port, al partition dividing saidhou'sing into va first chamber communicating with one of said exhaust openings and said port and a second chamber communicating with theCother of said exhaust openings and through a passage with said to said partition, a sliding louver mounted in said one of said exhaust openings ridinguon said tracks 4ded by said partition, a spring biasing said sliding louver to a position iiush with the surface of said louver assembly, means upon insertion of a hose in said one of said exhaust openings displacing said sliding louver against the bias of said spring, and a skirt carried by said sliding louver closing the passage `from said port to said second chamber upon the insertion of said hose openings.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having a suction opening at one end and a plurality of exhaust in said one of said exhaust openings -in the other end, means for producing a flow of air throughl said casing, a hollow member within said casing having a port at one end and enclosing said exhaust openings, tracks secured to said hollow member, a member mounted in one of said exhaust openings on said tracks having exhaust louvers and an extension closing apamage communicating withthe other of said l exhaust openings when a hose is connected in said one' of said exhaust openings.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, means to produce adiow. of air through said casing, a louver assemblysecured to said casing having a plurality of exhaust openings, a hollow member within said casing secured to said louver assembly and having a port, a partition secured to said openings riding on said tracks, a skirt oi said sliding member adapted to close the passage between said port and said first-named exhaust opening upon the connection of a conduit in said' last-named exhaust opening, whereby airowing through said casing passes out through said conduit.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, means for producing a ow of air through said casing, a removable cover secured to one end of said casing having a suction aperture, a louver assembly secured to the other end of said casing having a plurality of exhaust openings, a sliding louver mounted in one of the exhaust openings and having inclined vanes to direct air passing therethrough upwardly, inclined vanes located in the other exhaust openings, a hollow housing secured to said louver assembly having a port, a partition of semi-cylindrical shape secured to said housing and forming a passage between said port and said exhaust openings, and an extension from said sliding member closing the passage to the other exhaust openings upon the insertion of a hose in said /one exhaust opening whereby air passing through the casing enters the hose.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having a suction opening at one end, means for producing a ow of air through said casing, a louver assembly secured to the end of said casing remote from said suction opening having a plurality of exhaust openings, a hollow housing'having a port secured to said louver' assembly within said casing, a partition secured to said housing between one of said exhaust openings and the other of said exhaust openings and forming a passage between said port and the other of said exhaust openings, tracks secured to said housing, a slid- 4 openings upon movement of said sliding louver against the bias of said spring.

CHARLE s L. BaowN, JR'. 

